Mike Nadel: Blonde bombshell can't distract red-hot Cubs

Thursday

Jul 31, 2008 at 12:01 AMJul 31, 2008 at 6:32 AM

Mike Nadel's column for Thursday, July 31 editions.

Mike Nadel

Erin Andrews, the ESPN "it" babe who clearly isn't afraid to flaunt it, sauntered around the visiting clubhouse, flitting from one Cubs player to another. Her skimpy outfit -- designed to accentuate her, um, positives -- had players leering at her. Some made lewd comments under their breath. Others giggled like 12-year-olds.

More on that later, as the scene was just one part of Bizarro Wednesday at Miller Park.

One of the few normal things about the night was the result: a 7-2 Cubs victory over the thoroughly flummoxed Milwaukee Brewers. That's three consecutive impressive triumphs for a Chicago team that had entered the series sporting a 22-30 road record and protecting a one-game division lead.

The Cubs scored the game's first run on a strikeout/wild-pitch combo and broke it open with a three-run, sixth inning started by pitcher Ryan Dempster's single (he was hitting .140). Little Reed Johnson batted fifth in manager Lou Piniella's lineup of All-Stars and capped that rally with an RBI single.

In improving to 12-4, Dempster was outstanding during his seven innings of work ... but his performance didn't lack strangeness, either. Two of the five hits he allowed were by opposing pitcher Manny Parra, who doubled and tripled to lift his batting average to .220. Dempster also wild-pitched home a run. And during his follow-through of a delivery to Prince Fielder in the sixth, the right-hander fell to his knees.

The Brewers played anything but sound, fundamental baseball, with their assorted misplays and goof-ups greeted simultaneously by cheers and groans because there were as many Cubbie fans as Brew Crew backers at "Wrigley Field North."

All in all, a pretty humiliating evening on ESPN for an organization trying to prove it belongs in prime time.

The loss dropped the Brewers four games behind the NL Central-leading Cubs, into a second-place tie with a remarkable St. Louis team that refuses to go away.

With the season only two-thirds complete, it's far too early to say the Cubs have wrapped up anything. Same with saying Milwaukee is doomed. Still, the Brewers' claims of being unaffected by this series' results were as unbelievable as Erin Andrews' work clothes.

"Good for you, Rammie," Andrews said three hours before the game, bending forward to shake Aramis Ramirez's hand.

"Good for you."

Ramirez, who had three doubles in the Cubs' 7-1 victory the previous night, sheepishly accepted Andrews' congratulations. She didn't ask him any questions because he was sitting on the players-only sofa; she seemingly just wanted to show "Rammie" her support. Weird.

Moments later, the blonde reporter was chatting with Alfonso Soriano. At one point, she placed her hand suggestively on Soriano's left bicep.

Was I reading too much into all this? I don't think so. I've been a paid observer for a long time ... and I wasn't exactly the only one who noticed.

As two Cubs stood near their lockers, one asked the other: "Hot? Or just attractive? Does she do anything for you?"

The inquisitor then made eye contact with me as if saying -- to use a term my uncle might have -- "Hubba-hubba!"

This went on for at least an hour. Finally, Piniella emerged from his office, ready for his dugout media session. As he turned the corner, there was Andrews in all of her bare-legged, high-heeled, low-necklined glory.

"Hey, hey, hey! Look at this!" Piniella said, loudly and excitedly. "Are you doing a baseball game today or a modeling assignment?"

Fair question. I have seen Andrews at many events in recent years and this was the first time I had witnessed anything quite like this, which is why it seemed so bizarre.

Did she really feel playing the sexpot was necessary to practice journalism? She is good-looking enough and has enough of a high-profile job that she would get plenty of interviews and attention even if she showed up in a burlap sack.

One thing for sure: There was a discernable buzz in the Cubs' clubhouse Wednesday before a pitch ever was thrown -- and that buzz had nothing to do with the anticipation of another huge victory over a division rival.

Mike Nadel (mikenadel@sbcglobal.net) is the Chicago sports columnist for GateHouse News Service. Read his blog, The Baldest Truth, at www.thebaldesttruth.com.